The FINANCIAL — On May 1, 2008, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) organized an inauguration dinner of ICC Georgia that was held under the auspices of H.E. Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia. The Cabinet of Ministers, Diplomatic Missions and businesses attended the event held at the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel.
“ICC Georgia is the Georgian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce, working – first and foremost – for Georgian businesses. And of course, ICC Georgia is open to any foreign company in the country,” Fady Asly, Chairman of ICC Georgia, declared.
“The economic policy of the current government in general and the Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia in particular are pro-business. The extraordinary growth of the Georgian economy is the result of such an open, liberal policy. I believe that ICC under the leadership of Fady Asly will benefit both the business community and the country’s economy,” declared Eka Sharashidze, the Minister of Economic Development of Georgia.
The International Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1919 with an overriding aim that remains unchanged: to serve world business by promoting trade and investment, open markets for goods and services, and the free flow of capital.
After the disintegration of communism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, ICC faced fresh challenges as the free market system won wider acceptance than ever before, and countries that had hitherto relied on state intervention switched to privatization and economic liberalization.
“As the world enters the 21st century, ICC is building a stronger presence in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the emerging economies of Eastern and Central Europe.
The first task for ICC Georgia is establishing an ICC court of arbitration in Georgia, under the auspices of the International Court of Arbitration in Paris,” noted Asly.
ICC keeps in touch with its members all over the world through its conferences and biennial congresses – in 2004 the world congress was held in Marrakesh. As a member-driven organization, with national committees in 84 countries, it has adapted its structures to meet the changing needs of business.
Many of them are practical services, like the ICC International Court of Arbitration, which is the longest established ICC institution. The court is the world’s leading body for resolving international commercial disputes by arbitration. In 2004 561 Requests for Arbitration were filed with the ICC Court, concerning 1,682 parties from 116 different countries and independent territories.
ICC Georgia Board Members are: Fady Asly, Chairman, Agritechnics Holding, Gilbert Hie, 1st Vice-Chairman, Bank Republic (Societe Generale), George Bazgadze, 2nd Vice- Chairman, Ernst & Young, Burak Birhekimoglu, Tav Urban Georgia, Nick Gvinadze, DLA Piper, Halim Daou, CoolZone, Giorgi Isakadze, Federation of Georgian Businessmen, Steve Johnson, Hotel Betsy’s, George Kakabadze, Georgian Chamber of Commerce.
“I would like to thank in particular the people who actively supported the launch of ICC in Georgia: Georgia’s Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze, who jumpstarted the contact with Paris, and especially Kakha Bendukidze, who followed the negotiation process step-by-step. We strongly believe that the ICC Court of Arbitration will very soon become a reality,” Asly added.
In the ICC Georgia Chairman’s words, Georgia is in a time of profound progress, but also of certain challenges. ICC Georgia is ready to work, both to strengthen its member businesses and to build the country’s economy.
“Our priority is spreading ICC rules and regulations within the Georgian business community. This standardization will improve the performance of Georgian businesses, both locally and internationally. Our other task is to work closely, through our professional commissions, both with the Georgian government and the ICC headquarters in Paris. We will work on all business issues, internationally and locally: on trade and transport; customs and banking, insurance and taxes; business ethics, arbitration and anti-corruption,” Asly said.
As he later added, for the first time in the history of Georgia, Georgian businesspeople will be involved in business and economic policymaking at a global level.
ICC Georgia’s fourth and most urgent priority is bringing small and medium size enterprises into our organization. Up till now, SMEs have been the abandoned children of the Georgian business landscape — at a time when they should become the backbone of the country’s economy. In an unprecedented step, 15 small and medium size businesses joined ICC Georgia recently.
The members of ICC Georgia are: Agritechnics Holding, Association of Banks of Georgia, Bank Republic, BGI Advisory Services Georgia, Booz Allen Hamilon Georgia, Capital Vostok, Carre Aviation Georgia Ltd, Coca-Cola Bottlers Georgia Ltd, CoolZone, DLA Piper, Ernst & Young, the Federation of Georgian Businessmen, French Business Council, Georgian Bar Association, Georgian Chamber of Commerce, Georgian Insurance Association, Hotel Betsy’s, HSB Bank Georgia JSC, IABP Georgia, Multiplex Solutions, Ikora JSC, T&K Restaurants, McDonalds Georgia, Tav Urban Georgia LLC, Teliani Valley.
ICC membership is open to any business organization operating in Georgia. The annual fee is GEL 1,600. Companies interested in joining ICC should fill out and return a membership application.
According to Asly, ICC does this not for the sake of politics, but progress.
“Businesses are apolitical by nature. Foreign investment in Georgia is vital for the stability of the national currency and for the creation of jobs. Without political stability in this country, there will be no foreign investment. Therefore, from this podium, I call on all political parties to spare the business environment – to keep it out of political games,” said Asly.
The ICC Georgia Chairman claimed that it is totally unacceptable to have the business and investment climates taken hostage by political parties seeking to score cheap political points. ICC Georgia is now up and running and looks forward to working closely with the government, Parliament, foreign diplomatic missions in Georgia and certainly with all its colleagues in the business community.
“Our vision is clear: We see Georgia as a financial and economic hub for the region, we see Georgia wealthy and prosperous, and we see Georgia without poverty. I believe the goal will be achieved through joint cooperation with the Government of Georgia that has the vision, and we will make it happen,” stated Asly.
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